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Welfare Facilities for visiting Truck Drivers
Rank: Super forum user 
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It has come to my attention that not all companies offer Welfare Facilities for visiting Truck Drivers -- WHY NOT?
Companies that require logistics (that's most companies then) probably get 1 driver per week at least, other companies may see several tens of workers in a day.
Is it not in the interest of companies to look after visiting workers? Shouldn't toilets and washroom be preferable to a driver having to take a leak at the back of the truck?
So the driver is waiting for YOU to either upload his/her truck or download from his/her truck, often requiring the driver to hand over the trucks ignition keys - so you have a captive workforce. Is it beyond the realms of good business (and common courtesy) to look after them with a rest room for visiting workers?
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Rank: Super forum user
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This is what the law says, but I am amazed that people are not more aware.
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 this is the following:
"Guidance to Regulation 4:
Where employees work at a workplace which is not under their employer's control, their employer has no duty under these Regulations, but should (as part of his or her general duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974) take any steps necessary to ensure that sanitary conveniences and washing facilities will be available. It may be necessary to make arrangements for the use of facilities already provided on site, or to provide temporary facilities. This applies, for example, to those who employ seasonal agricultural workers to work on someone else's land.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rank: Super forum user
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Good point Kim but not all want them particular oversees drivers. A few years ago (5ish) I too was concerned that oversees drivers were having to ''rough it bringing in goods from the near east. we built showers, extended the offer to the canteen facilities and marked all pedestrian walkways blue for external drivers to provide clear info.
the driver ignored the lot and continued to carry on with there historic arrangement's of getting out their mobile cookers and preparing food on site.
Showers were unused and offers of welfare not taken up.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I have had the benefit of several employments and never had to experience any driver / visitor being refused access to welfare facilities whilst at my employers premises - perhaps I have been fortunate in working for the enlightened. Some made specific provision where there were a lot of movements (a la DP) whilst others generally escorted the lone driver to the nearest available site facility.
At one site I did receive a telephone call from an irate Transport Manager demanding to know why we refused to let his driver use the toilet, as it transpires this was not the case - the driver had missed his next scheduled slot through stopping on route for a comfort break costing the firm a missed delivery penalty. The real cause of this penalty was not the drivers stopping but the unrealistic demands placed by their drop planning software assuming perfect driving conditions, no congestion, no vehicle malfunctions, no other road users, no roadworks planned or unplanned, immediate attendance by the drop site and no "calls of nature".
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Rank: Super forum user
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I have had the benefit of several employments and never had to experience any driver / visitor being refused access to welfare facilities whilst at my employers premises - perhaps I have been fortunate in working for the enlightened. Some made specific provision where there were a lot of movements (a la DP) whilst others generally escorted the lone driver to the nearest available site facility.
At one site I did receive a telephone call from an irate Transport Manager demanding to know why we refused to let his driver use the toilet, as it transpires this was not the case - the driver had missed his next scheduled slot through stopping on route for a comfort break costing the firm a missed delivery penalty. The real cause of this penalty was not the drivers stopping but the unrealistic demands placed by their drop planning software assuming perfect driving conditions, no congestion, no vehicle malfunctions, no other road users, no roadworks planned or unplanned, immediate attendance by the drop site and no "calls of nature".
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Rank: Super forum user
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Thank you for the replies. I am working as an agency driver at the moment because I can't get my foot in the door despite being Tech IOSH - that's life.
I totally agree with you Roundtuit, having worked for many companies that don't quite grasp transport planning, only yesterday, Friday, driving from Bristol to Bridgwater on the M5, then around the countryside in deepest Somerset, then down and across to Bournemouth, it was only 4 deliveries, but it required manual handling (handball). Then a 3 plus hour drive back to Bristol, but because I have to take breaks due to the law, working time directive and tachograph regulations, speed regulations (stuck at 40 or more often now 30 mph on normal roads), highway code and traffic law -- that days work took 12 hours. Thank God I'm agency, I couldn't work for many companies full time - I'd end up committing murder of the managers.
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